OFFICE(11)/30 
11-2546 
 
 
The recruitment policy of the WTO shall be to  seek to attract and retain staff members 
offering the highest standards of comp etence, efficiency and integrity. 
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the WTO gives full regard to merit and diversity. 
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
Vacancy Notice No.:   EXT/F/11-19 Issued on:   20 May 2011 
 
Title:   Information Officer Application deadline (CET):   20 June 2011 
 
Grade:   6 
 
Contract type:   Fixed-term 
 Division:   Information and External Relations
(659) 
Starting Salary:   CHF 88,000 net per annum 
(approximate)  Duration:   Two years with the possibility of 
extension 
 
Other Conditions: In accordance with WTO Staff Regulations  and Staff Rules and WTO Pension Plan 
Regulations. The World Trade Organization offers an a ttractive compensation package including an 
annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and 
health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, 
separation grant and 30 days annual vacation.  Benefits for internationally recruited 
staff may include travel and removal e xpenses on appointment and separation, 
installation grant, education grant,  rental subsidy and home leave. 
Additional information on the compensation package is provided on the WTO website:  http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/comp_package_e.pdf
. 
 
 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Information Officer in the 
Information and External Relations Division.  Se rving staff members interested in the position 
are also invited to apply. 
 
 General Functions  
 
The incumbent will be responsible for outreach and information dissemination to journalists in the 
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as well as civil society and Parliamentarians.  The incumbent must follow WTO activities closely and understand them  well so as to convey news accurately and in 
a timely fashion to journalists based in the ME NA region.  The incumbent would be required to 
establish and maintain strong working relationships with regional journalists and to provide training 
for them on WTO and trade-related issues wher e necessary.  Among the incumbent's duties are 
regular monitoring of regional media with written su mmaries in English, briefing of journalists on 
specific WTO issues and participation in the prepar ation of Ministerial Conferences.  The incumbent 
must keep up-to-date with developments involving civil society and parliamentarians in the region 
and globally.  The incumbent will report to the Director of the Di vision with day-to-day supervision by the Senior 
Information Officer/External Relations Counsellors.  OFFICE(11)/30 
Page 2  
 
   
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 
 
Education: 
 
A university degree in an appropriate subject is requi red.  A graduate degree would be an advantage. 
 
Knowledge: 
 Command of WTO issues across the spectrum; poten tial to develop expertise in specific areas of 
WTO activity and report on the developments in  more global press or NGO briefings.  Highly 
developed communication skills and experience with the target audi ence and their needs, be they 
journalists, NGOs or Parliamentarians; ability to express herself/himself in a clear, coherent and 
compelling manner for a range of Middle Eastern and Northern African audiences.  Good drafting 
skills in English.  Experience with a range of diff erent media tools.  Ability to work as part of a 
broader team to help develop mes sages and communication strategies. 
 
Work Experience: 
 
At least three years working in journalism, publ ic relations or as a press officer in another 
international organization. 
 
Languages: 
 
Fluency in Arabic, Englis h and French is essential. 
 
Additional Information: 
 
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.  
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION 
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW 
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
Online applications are strongly encour aged to enable the WTO to store 
your profile in a permanent database. 
 
Please visit the WTO's E-Recruitment website at:  www.wto.org. 
The system provides instructions for online application procedures. 
 
All applicants are encouraged to apply on line as soon as possible after the vacancy has 
been posted and well before the clos ing date – Central European Time (CET) – stated in the vacancy 
announcement. 
  OFFICE(11)/30 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Off-line Applications should be sent to: 
 
Director, Human Resources Division WTO Centre William Rappard 
154, rue de Lausanne 
CH-1211 Geneva 21 Switzerland 
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE 
CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED 
 
The WTO is a non-smoking environment.